Embroidery attachment



Sept. 27, 1955 J s n-H 2,718,857

EMBROIDERY ATTACHMENT Filed July 17, 1952 Emmer J. Smifh g g JNVENTOR.

United States Patent() ENIBROIDERY ATTACHMENT Emmer J. Smith, Superior, W. Va., assignor of twentyeight and one-third per cent to E. L. Mitchell and ten per cent to Abishi C. Cunningham, Welch, W. Va.

Application July 17, 1952, Serial No. 299,431

4 Claims. (Cl. 112-121) This invention relates in general to attachments for sewing machines, particularly domestic sewing machines, and more specifically to an attachment especially designed for embroidering and darning.

At the present time there are in use many types of attachments for sewing machines which permit the embroidering of fabric with the same. However, these attachments are either quite complicated and require a considerable length of time for the attachment of the same to a sewing machine, or do not permit the proper manipulation of fabric being embroidered. There have also been devised several attachments for sewing machines which permit the embroidering of fabric with the use of an embroidery hoop. However, this type of attachment necessitates time consuming repositioning of the embroidery hoop and also permits misalignment of the work during the changing of the embroidery hoop from one position to another. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a relatively simple attachment for a sewing machine which may be utilized for embroidering fabrics and which may permit ease of movement of the fabric during the embroidering process.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved presser foot attachment for a sewing machine which permits the embroidering and darning of fabrics, said presser foot attachment being adapted to firmly engage fabrics to prevent puckering during the upstroke of a needle and at the same time permitting the fabric being embroidered or darned to be freely maneuvered to the desired position with respect to a needle of the sewing machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved presser foot attachment for a sewing machine which is adapted to replace a conventional presser foot and be utilized for embroidery work, said presser foot attachment firmly holding fabric being embroidered in place while at the same time permitting maneuverability of the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved presser foot attachment which may be utilized for embroidery and darning work, said presser foot attachment being of a relatively simple construction and formed of relatively inexpensive materials whereby the same is economically feasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved presser foot attachment adapted for use in embroidery and darning work, said presser foot attachment including a portion adapted to engage fabric being embroidered or darned and flexible mounting means permitting said portion to be resiliently urged upwardly over the needlework during the maneuvering of fabric being either embroidered or darned.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved presser foot attachment for sewing machines to facilitate embroidering and darning with the same, said presser foot attachment having a resilient mounting means to permit the automatic adjustment of the same for various types of fabrics.

2,718,857 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the presser foot attachment showing the same secured upon a presser bar of a sewing machine in the process of embroidering a piece of fabric;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the presser foot attachment and shows the general outline of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the presser foot attachment and showing the relationship of a transverse attaching plate with respect to a marginal rim, a portion of an attaching socket being broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the construction thereof; and alternate positions of the marginal rim and attaching plate being illustrated by dotted lines; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the presser foot attachment of Figure 1 and shows the general outline of an attachment socket, a portion of the marginal rim being broken away and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the cross-section thereof.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the presser foot attachment, which is illustrated therein, is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The presser foot attachment 10 includes a substantially semicircular marginal rim 12 which is transversely curved and has an outwardly projecting lower rolled edge 14 adapted to overlie and engage fabric being worked upon.

- The presser foot attachment 10 also includes mounting means in the form of a transversely extending attaching plate 16 which extends between the upper edges of the free end portions of the marginal rim 12. Carried by the attaching plate 16 is an attaching socket 18 formed by a channel-shaped member extending upwardly from the upper surface of the attaching plate 16. The web of the channel-shaped member forming the attaching socket 18 is provided with an aperture 20 through which may be passed suitable fastening means.

As is best illustrated in Figure 4, not only is the lower edge of the marginal rim 12 rounded to facilitate movement of fabric with respect to the presser foot attachment 10, but also the free ends of the marginal rim 12 are rounded as at 22 to facilitate movement of fabric towards the free ends of the marginal rim.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that the attaching plate 16 is resilient and that the socket forming channel member may be moved downwardly with respect to the marginal rim 12 by downwardly flexing the attaching plate 16 to the position illustrated in dotted lines. The flexing of the attaching plate 116 permits not only the movement of the presser foot attachment 10 over needlework formed in a piece of material being worked on, but also permits adjustment of the presser foot attachment to various thicknesses of fabrics.

While the attaching plate 16 has been illustrated and described as being integral with the marginal rim 12, it will be understood that, if it is so desired, the attaching plate 16 may be separate from the marginal rim 12 and secured to the same by suitable fastening means (not shown).

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a portion of a conventional sewing machine which includes a pressure bar 24 on which is p d o e moun d a onventional presse foo (not shown). The presser foot is normally retained in place by a fastening 26 threadedly engaged in the presser bar 24. When it is desired to mount the presser foot attachment 10 on the presser bar 24, the fastening 26 is removed to permit removal of the presser foot (not shown). The presser foot attachment 10 is then mounted on the presser bar 24 by passing the lower end of the same within the attaching socket 123 and securing the channel member forming the same to the presser bar 24} through the use of the fastening 26.

Positioned adjacent the presser bar 2.4 is a reciprocate ing needle bar 28 which has mounted in its lower end a needle 3%. The needle 30 is clamped within the lower end of the needle bar 23 by a fastening 32. The needle 3% is also provided with sewing thread 3.4 threaded through the eye of the same.

After the presser foot attachment It) has been secured to the presser bar 24, the sewing machine is ready for use in forming either embroidery work or darning. A fabric, such as the fabric 36 is then passed beneath the presser foot attachment 10 and positioned with respect to the needle 30 for sewing.

When the fabric 36 has been passed under the presser foot attachment 10 the presser bar 24 is in an elevated position and the rolled lower edge 14 of the marginal flange 12 either is closely adjacent or in contact with the upper surface of the fabric 36. The rolled lower edge 14 is then moved to the desired position by flexing the attaching plate 16 to provide the desired relationship between the presser foot attachment 10 and the fabric 36 which is to be either embroidered or darned.

The space between the marginal rim 12 and the attach.- ing plate 16 is sufiiciently large for a user of the attachment to sight the material being embroidered or darned and at the same time firmly clamps the fabric 36 to the bed of the sewing machine to prevent puckering of the material during the upward stroke of the needle 30. However, it will be understood that the pressure exerted on the fabric 36 by the presser foot attachment 10 is insufiicient to prevent maneuverability of the fabric so that it may be easily moved relative to the needle 30 for embroidering and darning various designs. During an embroidering or darning operation, the needle 30 is permitted to reciprocate freely whilethe fabric 36 is maneuvered with respect to the same.

While there has been made no mention of the feed mechanism for moving fabric with respect to the needle 30, it will be understood that the sewing machine of which the presser bar 24 and needle bar Zfi are a part is provided with a feed mechanism and that the same underlies the fabric 36. Inasmuch as no direct downward pressure is exerted on the portion of the fabric 36 disposed within the marginal rim 12, it will be seen that the feed mechanism will be rendered ineffective.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoing description of the details thereof, taken in connection with the above recited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor deta ls from th embod ment of the device ill ra e an described here, may be resorted to without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An embroidery attachment for sewing machines comprising an upstanding marginal rim of a greater height than width and having a fabric engaging lower edge, a straight resilient attaching plate having opposite ends connected to said marginal rim, said attaching plate having a side edge disposed remote from said marginal rim to form a needle receiving opening, sleeve-like attaching means carried by said attaching plate intermediate said ends for securing the attachment to a presser bar.

2. An embroidery attachment for sewing machines comprising an upstanding marginal rim of a greater height than Width and having a fabric engaging lower edge, a straight resilient attaching plate having opposite ends connected to said marginal rim, said attaching plate having a side edge disposed remote from said marginal rim to form a needle receiving opening, sleeve-like attaching means carried by said attaching plate intermediate said ends for securing the attachment to a presser bar, said marginal rim having a smooth rounded lower edge to permit movement of fabric therebeneath.

3. An embroidery presser foot attachment for sewing machines comprising an upstanding C-shaped marginal rim of a greater height than width and having spaced free ends, said marginal rim having a lower edge for engaging fabrics, a straight resilient plate extending transversely of said marginal rim between said free ends and connected thereto, a sleeve-like presser bar receiving socket carried by said resilient plate intermediate its ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said marginal rim having a smooth rounded lower edge to permit movement of fabric therebeneath.

4. An embroidery presser foot attachment for sewing machines comprising an upstanding C-shaped marginal rim of a greater height than width and having spaced free ends, said marginal rim having a lower edge for engaging fabrics, a straight. resilient plate extending transversely of said marginal rim between said free ends and connected thereto, a .sleeverlike presser bar receiving socket carried by said resilient plate intermediate its ends and extending upwardly therefrom, said free ends being rounded and said marginal rim having a smooth rounded lower edge to permit movement of fabric therebeneath.

R ferenc s ite in th file Of hi p t UNITED STATES PATENTS 62,202 New --.7----.---a N .2 1900 82 ,737 Co pe et al- 7 g- 7, 1 997,545 Collins July 11, 1911 1,102,433 Pettit N July 7, 1914 1,172,417 Wilson Feb. 22, 1916 1, 81,83 fiem eb a 0, 1934 

